Leslie, I have done it for years. Right now, my worms are living outside, and I am sure they are at the bottom of the pile, all knotted up together, trying to stay warm.

I have learned, they can survive outside. They don't do much in the cold, but will get busy again once their pile gets warm.

The vermicompost is just about the BEST fertilizer you can have.

The bonus is security. All your shredded papers will turn in to vermicompost, if added to the pile.

Moni

Moni-
Could you tell more about this or provide a link about keeping them outside? I tried to have them on a small scale inside but my husband is not a fan of having them inside. I am very interested in it but don't want to have to listen to the gritching about them.
thanks-
mo

I think I'm going to start mine as just a Rubbermaid bin inside under the sink. I won't have a lot since it's just me, so I think I can keep from overwhelming the bin. I have no idea how many worms I need, though. How much space does a pound of worms take up?

Lat0403, yes, those of us into vermicomposting are passionate about producing a fantastic soil amendment created by Red Wiggler worms, the original recyclers. It is so exciting to see all that cardboard, manure, junk mail, green waste and leaves to "magically" turn into rich, black castings.

For a single person, generating 1# of waste/wk, you would need a 12x12 bin. If you don't have that much waste/wk, then 1# of worms may be too much or you would need another source of feedstock.

I only have outside 30' bins, so being in the same zone, I don't know if a bin that size would hold enough mass to protect the worms in winter outside; unless you brought them into the garage.

Is there an OK source for worms? I think mine have croaked.
Really want them again in spring.Sometimes I find escapees in the very rich soil/rotted leaves around our foundation but not always.

I do! I just started last summer. I bought a 5 bin worm factory on Craigslist. I keep mine inside in a room off the kitchen. As long as you don't overfeed your worms, there is no issue with odor or bugs. I made the mistake of dumping too much food too soon once, and we had a terrible gnat problem for a few days.

I could not find a local source for worms. I called everywhere including every bait store I could find. I wound up ordering 2000 from Uncle Jim's worm farm. With free shipping and a coupon, the cost was $34-36. When the worms arrived I was pretty sure (not positive) that they only sent 1000 (based on weight etc). I emailed them and they immediately sent out another bag of worms.

My worms are doing great, I just ignore them, rotate bins about once per month (remove the bottom bin of finished compost and put it on top with new layers of food, leaves, shredded newspaper). You'd never know they were there. I love my worms!

Jo

There used to be a man involved in the Oklahoma County Master Gardener's program who sold worms. It's been a couple of years since I spoke to him, so I don't know if he can still be found. If you call they will not give you his name or number, but they will take yours so he has the option to call you. Call the OSU Oklahoma County Extension office.

I have some, last time I looked. I keep them in Rubbermaid out in our tool shed. They're the Canadian "nightcrawler" type, larger than the first red worms people started with.

George

Vermicomposting seems to be good of idea turning kitchen waste into nice compost.

Leslie, do you any luck so far? Let me know your progress. I am thinking to have worm compost factory below the kitchen sink. I am quite new to all these stuff, but would like to try everything benefits nature and organic gardening. Thanks -Chandra

Leslie, change containers, and move it. Don't tell. This is a really good thing not to talk about with squeamish spouses. :)

I didn't move mine outdoors, till I had a rather big bunch. If they weren't outside, and more or less in "storage" right now, I would share some with you. But I really can't get to working with them, even checking on them right now. As soon as I move, and get them back....

Meanwhile, here are pictures of my worm operation from the past.

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v79/tahlequahgardens/Gardening/Vermicompost/

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v79/tahlequahgardens/Gardening/worm%20harvest%202007/